Clark Schools Walk To Fight Diabetes

CLARK — The Physical Education Departments of Arthur L. Johnson High School and Carl H. Kumpf Middle School recently hosted its fourth annual American Diabetes Association’s School Walk for Diabetes.

The walk is designed to educate children and their school community about the growing diabetes epidemic and provide educational tools — aligned with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education standards for physical education — to promote the prevention of diabetes and its complications. School Walk for Diabetes is an educational school fund-raiser that supports programs aimed at curing and preventing diabetes, and improving the lives of those affected by diabetes.

Today, 25.8 million people, or 8.3% of the population, have diabetes. Diabetes is a condition where the body either does not make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it does make. The two most common forms of diabetes are:

Type 1 Diabetes — When the body destroys its own insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Type 2 Diabetes — When the body is either not making enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it does make. Eating healthy foods and regularly exercising can help prevent type 2 diabetes.

To date the two schools have collectively raised over $12,000 throughout the years in the fight against diabetes.

“This fundraiser serves as a great opportunity to help those who struggle with diabetes,” said Cam Nguyen, last year’s top fundraiser.

“Almost every student knows someone who has diabetes and the school walk is a great way to educate our students on the disease and to raise money to help find a cure,” said Kumpf School Walk Coordinator Michele Zaleski.

If you would like to donate to this year’s fundraiser, make a check out to the American Diabetes Association and mail it to Arthur L. Johnson High School, 365 Westfield Ave., Clark, N.J. 07066.